Gov’t addresses surge of calls to suicide hotline because of drought

Catherine Oliver Franco, head of the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration

By THE STAR STAFF

A surge of anxiety calls to suicide hotlines tied to Puerto Rico’s worsening drought and expanding water rationing has prompted mental‑health authorities to intensify outreach, as the government acknowledges a growing emotional toll from the island’s deepening dry spell.

Catherine Oliver Franco, head of the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA by its initials in Spanish), said Tuesday that the Línea PAS crisis line has logged 60 calls in just one week from residents expressing fear, distress and difficulty coping with water interruptions. The jump has been sharp: 21 calls at the start of the week, followed by 39 more on Monday alone, signaling what officials describe as a “significant increase” in drought‑related emotional strain.

Most callers, Oliver Franco noted, are women living in Puerto Rico’s northern region, an area where rationing measures and dwindling supplies have become increasingly disruptive. The concerns range from the immediate -- no water to bathe, cook or clean -- to broader fears about how long the emergency will last.

“These calls are mostly driven by fear and anguish,” she said, adding that the emotional impact of not knowing when water will return has become a central theme.

ASSMCA staff now evaluate each case individually, determining whether callers need psychological support, emergency intervention, or even basic supplies. Some of the most urgent situations involve older adults or people with mobility challenges who cannot leave their homes to buy bottled water. In those cases, the agency coordinates deliveries or works with other government entities to replenish cisterns at community centers.

The assessments also look for signs of relapse among people already receiving mental‑health or addiction treatment. If a caller appears to be in crisis, ASSMCA dispatches specialized teams that may include clinical psychologists, social workers, addiction counselors or case managers.

Oliver Franco said the agency began preparing for this scenario months ago, anticipating that the intensifying drought could trigger both logistical and emotional emergencies. Coordination with other agencies has expanded as calls increasingly involve needs beyond mental health -- safe water handling, supply distribution, and guidance for vulnerable households.

On average, Línea PAS receives about 1,625 calls per month for a wide range of mental‑health and substance‑use concerns. The service operates 24/7 and provides follow‑up for people referred to treatment or outpatient care.

As the drought continues to tighten its grip, officials urge residents to seek help if they feel overwhelmed or are struggling to cope. Línea PAS is available free of charge and confidentially at 1‑800‑981‑0023, day or night.